[ Back from camp ]

just got home from camp and really shagged, but a feeling of great satisfaction. a total of 6 hours of sleep in 3 nights, limited food and tremendous amount of physical training was indeed a challenge. but again, nothings impossible. for the first time i did not get entirely involved in every matter of the camp. not that i wished to slack, but cause i felt i have done enough and should give my fellow ncos and sec3s a chance to run this camp. and indeed they sure did a good job in organizing and managing it. though training may be extremely tough to some, i hope that the cadets will understand that only when one pushes him/her self to the limits, will one see him/herself raising as a leader; doing things that were once thought impossible, such as the 10km hike, survival cooking and pushing our bodies over the boundaries despite the little rest we got. i expect to hear much complains from parents very soon, but so be it. its sad to know how parents these days pamper their kids so much that many dont get a chance to get themselves out of the comfort zone and challenge themselves to overcome greater obstacles. the worst thing we can do is to please others and compromise training for welfare. as what vincent sir would say. "how can we expect trees to grow if we were to always keep them under shelter?" what greater joy could an instructor have than to see our juniors becoming greater leaders than us, achieving more and doing things better than we did. though ironically old masters in ancient china wouldnt pass all of their skills to their apprentice in fear that they might one day surpass them. hence, after centuries of such mentality, valuable skills are lost; the will to explore new frontiers dies off. for me, this camp was a really meaningful one. not only did i see my juniors taking on leadership roles and instilling in themselves better discipline, but i've discovered something more for myself. if the rest had notice, i was doing much of the upfront leading on the first day. while getting down to cook, clean, helping out with the fnb and serving the rest on the second, therefore furfilling the motto of the SWO, "TO LEAD AND TO SERVE." after 2 whole weeks of intense meetings, plannings, recces and of course the camp itself, it finally comes to an end. after 4yrs of cadet life and a yr of being a nco, my job is done. though my job may be done, but never my duty.

last but not least, thanks to all the ncos especially the fnb team, VIs, WOTs and not forgetting the cadets for their part in making this camp a splendid success! you rock!